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July 10, 2009
Source:
CropBiotech Update
A new research study Import and
Commercialization of Transgenic Crops: An Indian Perspective
published in the recent issue of
Asian Biotechnology
and Development Review (ABDR) reveals a surge in the import
of transgenic materials for R&D of transgenic crops in India.
Between 1997 to 2008, a total of 79 consignments of transgenic
planting materials have been imported from different countries
through the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR).
NBPGR is a nodal agency for import and quarantine processing of
transgenic planting materials for various public and private
research institutions engaged in R&D of transgenic crops.
The imported crops included cabbage, Indian mustard, rapeseed,
chickpea, soybean, tomato, tobacco, rice, potato, wheat and
corn. Out of these imported transgenic crops, the maximum number
of imports consisted of cotton followed by maize and rice. The
predominant trait in these imported crops is for imparting
resistance to lepidopteran insects followed by herbicide
tolerance. A maximum number of transgenes have been introduced
in rice including AmA1 gene and ferritin genes for improved
nutrition, cry1Ac, cry1C, cry2A, cry19C and GFM-cry1A genes for
resistance against lepidopteran insects, cry1Ab gene for
resistance to stem borer, cp4epsps gene for herbicide tolerance,
Xa21 gene for resistance to bacterial leaf blight, PR genes for
resistance to sheath borer, bar gene for resistance to
glufosinate ammonium herbicide, HAS, ScFv & AFP-AG genes for
nematode resistance, and the genes for phytoene synthase,
phytoene desaturase, and lycopene cyclase involved in the
synthesis of β-carotene in the endosperm of golden rice.
The study examines the pattern of import in a range of crops for
different traits over the last decade and attempts to understand
the gap between the pace at which the transgenic crops are being
imported by public and private sectors and their actual
commercialization.
The study concludes that harnessing optimum benefits of
transgenic crops while sustaining our valuable biodiversity
hinges on systematic development, import and commercialization
of transgenic crops along with strong public and private sector
collaboration. It also addresses the concerns regarding
potential impacts of transgenic crops on environment and human
health and proposes to make a strong collaboration between
public and private sectors to adequately address the biosafety
issues.
For a full copy of the study, contact
Dr. Gurinder Jit Randhawa
Visit Asian
Biotechnology and Development Review (ABDR) website at
For more information about biotech development in India contact
b.choudhary@cgiar.org
and k.gaur@cgiar.org
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